Police Deploys More Officers Where Van Ploughs Into Crowd Near London Mosque

Britain has deployed additional police near mosques on Monday after a van ploughed into Muslim worshipers in north London’s Finsbury Park area, injuring 10 people, in an incident being treated as a terrorist attack.

A man who died in the incident, after his legs were trapped under the van, had been sitting on the pavement while he was receiving first aid before the attack, police said.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said “people in the Muslim community, attending prayers, will see their police protecting them in coming days.”

Speaking alongside Dick in Finsbury Park, London mayor Sadiq Khan said police officers would be called back from leave to boost numbers in areas with large Muslim communities.

Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn made separate visits to Finsbury Park Mosque, close to the site of the attack, in which a man drove a rented van into pedestrians who had just finished evening prayers.

“The terrible terrorist attack which took place last night was an evil born out of hatred and it has devastated a community,” May told reporters as she left the mosque.

“I am pleased to have been here today to see the strength of that community coming together, all faiths united in one desire to see extremism and hatred of all sorts driven out of our society,” she said.

The police said they arrested the driver – a 48-year-old man described as white, who is believed to have acted alone – on suspicion of attempted murder.

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